KOTA KINABALU – Talks on seat distribution between Pakatan Harapan (PH) parties in Sabah are going well and nearing conclusion, Upko vice-president Datuk Ewon Benedick said.
This includes seats for parties that are not part of Sabah PH, but are in a pact with the state coalition for the 15th general election, he said.
It will be a “win-win formula for all”, he added.
Benedick also says it includes state seats as early preparation for state polls due in three years’ time.
Only federal seats will be up for contest in Sabah in the 15th general election (GE15) on November 19, as the state election was held in 2020, and has three more years to go before completing a term.
“The discussion is not limited to the federal election. If you see we are happy with this distribution, I think it goes with the package (that includes state assembly seats),” Benedick told The Vibes after a PH talk here last night.
Sabah has 25 parliamentary seats and 73 state seats.
Sabah PH comprises Upko, DAP, Amanah, and PKR – while Muda is a partner in the state.
Benedick said the Upko will be contesting in five seats – Penampang, Tuaran, Libaran, Beluran and Kimanis.
Upko has named its outgoing president Datuk Seri Wilfed Madius Tangau to defend the Tuaran seat, while Benedick will contest in Penampang.
Other Sabah PH parties will announce their candidates soon, said Benedick, who will replace Tangau as president in a party transition after GE15 is held.
Meanwhile, incumbent Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin said it was a big achievement for Sabah PH to agree on using the PH logo in GE15.
“We took a long time before we came to the decision of using a common logo, and this is already a big achievement.
“Before that, we were using separate logos. We need to show the people that we are together so that all seats are contested by PH, not by any single party,” he said. – The Vibes, October 24, 2022
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